"The God Strategy: Faith As a Political Weapon"

Religion has long been a significant part of American politics. For much of this history, the confluence of faith and politics has been a alrgely symbolic practice, without distinctly partisan motivations. But something has changed in recent decades. On issue after issue, U.S. public debate today includes, and often is dominated by, faith-based perspectives espoused by politically adept individuals and organizations. This lecture will examine how and why this occurred and what it means for democracy.

David Domke is a professor in the Department of Communication and head of journalism at the University of Washington. He is a former journalist, author of God Willing? Political Fundamentalism in the White House, The War on Terror, and The Echoing Press.  His new book, The God Strategy: How Religion Became A Political Weapon in America, was coauthored with Kevin Coe of the University of Illinois. In 2006 Domke was named the Washington state Profess of the Year by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education adna the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.